Hardware

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 Computer devices
The invention of the computer has had a huge impact
on our day-to-day lives, and they are now present
everywhere – at home, at work and in education. It is
easy to recognise that personal computers, laptops
and mobile devices are computers, but computers
are also hidden in many more devices.
Computers are found in many of the devices we use
on a daily basis. Because they are relied on so
heavily, knowing what they are and how to use them
is valuable

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 Digital devices

• Computers exist in many digital devices that

we use on a day-to-day basis. Digital devices
may be input, output or storage devices.
• On a basic level, they all operate through the
use of logic gates.

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 Input devices
An input device is any piece of
computer hardware used to provide data to a
computer system. Examples include:
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Scanner
• Digital camera
• Webcam etc.

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 Output devices
An output device is any piece of computer
hardware used to communicate the results of
data that has been processed. Examples
include:
• Monitor
• Printer
• Speaker
• Headphones etc.

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 Storage devices
A storage device is a piece of computer
equipment which can be used to store data.
Examples include:
• hard disk drive
• DVD drive
• USB stick
• CD
• Blu ray etc

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 Software
Software is the programs that are run on
computer hardware. There are two different
types of software:
• systems software and
• applications software.

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Software and Hardware compared

• Hardware is the physical parts of the computer

and software is the programs that run on a
computer. There is a close relationship
between hardware and software. Without
software, hardware is very limited and without
hardware, software would not be able to run.
• They need each other. Software makes hardware
useful. It gives it the instructions it needs to
operate. When hardware runs software, it loads the
software into its RAM.
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 Types of Software

There are two main types of software:

• systems software
• applications software

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 Systems software

• Systems software helps run and maintain the

computer. It includes the operating
system, drivers and utility software.

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 Operating system
• The biggest part of systems software is the
operating system. It is an essential part that
allows other systems software, and application
software, to communicate with hardware. All
computers have an operating system.
• They cannot operate without one. The
operating system is needed to perform a
number of tasks. It provides a user interface,
manages the use of memory and the opening,
closing, saving and deleting of files.
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• Most operating systems have features that
look after the security of the computer with
usernames and passwords. Examples of
operating systems include Windows, Linux,
Mac OSX, Android and iOS.

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 Applications software
• Applications software is used to carry out
tasks on a computer, such as writing an email,
making a poster, doing homework and
messaging friends. Some of the applications
we might use to do this include a word
processor, web browser and graphics
software.

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• Some software, such as word processors,
spreadsheets and desktop publishers are
called general purpose software because it is
possible to carry out lots of different tasks
using that application.
• Some software is called special purpose
software because it performs one specific
task. This might include a flight simulator,
payroll software or an application for revising
maths.

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• Applications are also used on smartphones to
do lots of things, such as social networking,
listening to music and messaging. The word
‘app’ is short for application software. This is a
piece of software that allows us to do an
everyday task.

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